You can save money on routine car maintenance by doing some of the work yourself, such as changing the oil. The Nissan Altima holds approximately 4.5 quarts (4.5 liters) of oil and should be changed every 7,500 miles (12,000 km). You need a 14 mm wrench, an oil filter wrench and 5W-30 oil for the change.
With the help of a jack, lift your Nissan Altima and place it on jack stands; if you don’t have jack stands, raise the Altima on a pair of ramps.
Open the engine cover and remove the dipstick and oil filler cap. Find the cap on the left side of the valve cover, near the dipstick.
Get an oil drip pan, a 14mm socket wrench, an oil filter strap wrench, cleaning rags and a new oil filter. Slide underneath your Nissan Altima.
Locate the drain plug under the car and the oil filter. Look at the bottom of the oil pan for the drain plug. The filter is near the back of the engine, on the right side about halfway up the shaft.
Remove the oil drain plug with the 14mm wrench. Pull the plug and let the oil drain for 10 to 15 minutes in a drip pan. Check the ropes and gasket and replace if damaged.
With an oil filter strap wrench remove the filter. Dump the used oil into the oil drip pan and insert the new oil filter. Tighten the oil filter by hand and then fit the oil drain plug with the wrench. Wipe off the excess oil.
Move the jack stands and lower the Nissan Altima or drive it off the wheel ramps. Go to the engine area and add the oil. Start the engine and watch the oil gauge rise.
Let the Altima run for a minute and turn the engine off. Take an oil reading with the dipstick. If the oil level is not full, add more oil.
Warnings
If the oil pressure gauge doesn’t come up when you start the Nissan Altima, turn off the engine and add more oil. Do not throw the oil in the regular trash. Fill the used plastic containers with the oil and drop it off at a gas station or auto parts store that has waste oil units.